WhatsApp to begin testing new feature that lets you send money to friends

The company is expected to introduce the payments functionality to users in India first

Facebook added similar functionality to Messenger last year (iStock)

WhatsApp is going to start testing a peer-to-peer payment system this year, according to a new report.

The messaging app is expected to roll the feature out to users in India in the next six months, as that’s its biggest market.

WhatsApp hasn’t confirmed or denied the reports, which come shortly after co-founder Brian Acton hinted that such functionality was in development.

“India is an important country for WhatsApp, and we’re understanding how we can contribute more to the vision of Digital India,” WhatsApp told TechCrunch in a statement.

“We’re exploring how we might work with companies that share this vision and continuing to listen closely to feedback from our users.”

However, a new job listing for a Digital Transactions Lead in India on WhatsApp’s website suggests that the company has already set the wheels in motion.

It calls for an individual who can “understand and explain [India’s Unified Payments Interface, Bharat Interface for Money and] Aadhar number” and “collaborate with banks to resolve WhatsApp user issues”.

Whether the company plans to expand the payments system beyond India remains to be seen.

Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, introduced similar functionality to its Messenger app last year.